Protect Our Patriarch-Chapter 56Book 5: : Harvest! Incredibly huge

...

Why did True Lord Yuling's words sound so familiar?

Wasn't he talking about his own wife, Liu Ruolan?

Ruolan didn't really cultivate much, lazing around all day, yet she could occasionally comprehend the Dao. Her bloodline aptitude and cultivation were skyrocketing.

Moreover, when she advanced to the Purple Mansion Realm, she recalled a water-based divine ability technique on her own...

What kind of situation was this? Others had to pay a hefty price for a technique.

But she could awaken it by herself.

Alright then!

Wang Shouzhe was speechless. He had always felt something was off with his wife, and now it seemed it was truly the case.

However, her situation was slightly different from True Lord Yuling's.

Ruolan wasn't an innate spiritual body from the start; she gradually ascended to it. Wang Shouzhe wasn't sure exactly when she reached the innate spiritual body level, only remembering it was around the mid to late Celestial Realm.

Besides, her bloodline level was peculiar, continuing to rise even after reaching the innate spiritual body level, seemingly not yet at its limit.

"True Lord Yuling, is it possible for reincarnation to come with memories?" Wang Shouzhe asked again, considering he had arrived with memories.

"To my knowledge, it's nearly impossible," True Lord Yuling frowned, "However, the world is vast and full of wonders, and my knowledge is ultimately limited."

"Thank you, True Lord Yuling, for clarifying." Wang Shouzhe cupped his hands in gratitude.

"No problem," True Lord Yuling waved his hand, "I was invited to assist in this battle, yet didn't make a move from start to finish, which leaves me feeling guilty."

While the two were chatting, the Blood Child Demon Lord trapped in the expedition hall, continuously suffering critical hits, was fuming with anger.

Damn it, what kind of situation was this? It was utterly humiliating.

Forget it, forget it.

There's no hope, can't hold on anymore!

Rather than being hammered to death like a dog by the Blood Nest puppet warriors, and continuing to be humiliated and mocked by this group of bastards, it would be better to self-destruct and be done with it.

However, while self-destructing, the information must be transmitted, especially the betrayal of the damn Yin Snake Demon Concubine lineage.

"Boom!"

The Blood Child Demon Lord's avatar acted decisively, sacrificing itself in a grand explosion, blasting the Blood Nest warriors away like a storm. Some Purple Mansion Realm Blood Nest warriors nearby were directly killed, and the Marrying Blood Gu burst out from their skulls.

Additionally, some Divine Realm Blood Nest warriors suffered significant damage.

Simultaneously, a blood-colored energy mass shot out at phantom-like speed, carrying the message of the Blood Child Demon Lord's avatar.

Wang Shouzhe merely glanced at the blood-colored energy mass, as it was an expected occurrence.

Jiang Zhencang personally entered the expedition hall to collect the Marrying Blood Gu Kings, but this alarmed the Blood Nest warriors, who surrounded him. He swung the Measuring Heaven Ruler and urgently shouted, "Longchang, Shouzhe, help."

As soon as he spoke.

Emperor Longchang flashed into the battle, but his Dao artifact, the Canglong Sword, was a national treasure, usually stationed in Guilong City, currently under Prince An's command.

Thus, Emperor Longchang could only handle one Void Realm Blood Nest warrior.

At this time, Dragon Jingjing and Ancestor Dragon both made their moves.

Dragon Jingjing held off one Void Realm, but she didn't transform into the Dragon Whale King, and since this wasn't her main arena in the ocean, she could only restrain one Void Realm Blood Nest warrior.

However, Ancestor Dragon transformed into a massive Yuan Shui Azure Dragon, personally holding off over a dozen Divine Realm Blood Nest warriors, while Wang Zongkun roamed the battlefield, ready to support various areas.

Besides, there were over twenty Purple Mansion Realm Blood Nest warriors in the expedition hall yet to be assigned.

At this moment, Wang Anye, stationed outside, led the meticulously crafted militia regiment of the Wang Clan into the Blood Venerable's relic. This battle group of over five thousand people, after decades of growth, had begun to possess combat power.

Among them, Wang Anye, a peerless prodigy, had already reached the second layer of the Purple Mansion Realm. With his comprehensive methods, restraining five or six Purple Mansion Realm Blood Nest warriors was not difficult.

The two deputy commanders, Wang Anxin and Lu Xiaoxiao, although not yet in the Purple Mansion, were at the peak of the Celestial Realm. With their bloodlines nurtured to the level of peerless prodigies, their bloodline awakening had reached the sixth level of the Holy Body.

With the allocated Divine Spirit Artifacts, they could easily hold off three Purple Mansion Realm Blood Nest warriors together.

The thirteen battalions under their command had a clear hierarchical structure, with battalion leaders and deputy battalion leaders all being great prodigies of the Celestial Realm, and even the weakest soldier being a Lingtai Realm cultivator. Each battalion was responsible for dealing with one Purple Mansion Realm Blood Nest warrior.

"Anye, this is a rare opportunity, make sure to train well," Wang Shouzhe advised.

"Yes, Great-grandfather." Wang Anye easily held off a group of Purple Mansion Realm, then summoned the legion flag, Seventh Sister.

As soon as the legion flag appeared, it unfurled with a flourish, accompanied by her wild laughter, "Anye, our militia regiment finally has a decent opponent this time. Warriors, it's time to fight for justice and glory. The Changning Wang's Clan Militia Regiment will surely win!"

Invisible waves of energy enveloped the entire expedition hall, and all the Blood Nest warriors were suppressed by the laws of heaven, feeling an inexplicable sluggishness in their movements.

The Void Realm Blood Nest warriors were less affected.

But those Purple Mansion Realm Blood Nest warriors felt as if they were wearing weighted clothing, their movements noticeably slower.

In contrast, the militia regiment members felt a surge of hot blood, their belief in victory filling their bodies, even the profound energy in their sea of energy circulated faster, making them stronger than before.

This was the battlefield effect of the legion flag.

Of course, a Dao artifact-level legion flag like Seventh Sister could cover a battlefield of tens of thousands, suppressing opponents while enhancing allies. In this small scene, Seventh Sister's capabilities were still underutilized.

In the Changning Wang's Clan Militia Regiment, each battalion had a very clear structure, with different tactical systems for various battle scenarios and targeted training.

For example, when each battalion had only two great prodigies of the Celestial Realm, they had special tactics for besieging Purple Mansion Realm.

For most ordinary battle groups, the comprehensive combat power of the Purple Mansion Realm was very strong, with high speed, strong combat power, and formidable single-unit defense, capable of mastering minor divine abilities. During a siege, it often required sacrificing lives, and if control was not careful, the opponent could break through and escape.

But for the Wang's Clan Militia Regiment, it was different. Every battalion had two great prodigies who had already comprehended minor divine abilities in the Celestial Realm and were equipped with Divine Spirit Artifacts. In terms of bloodline awakening and understanding of minor divine abilities, they were not inferior to ordinary Purple Mansion Realm.

They only needed to slightly restrict the Purple Mansion Realm, and the battalion members could use long-range magical treasures and spiritual tools to focus their attacks.

A single spiritual tool might not even break the opponent's protective qi, battle body, or other defenses.

But the concentrated attack of hundreds of spiritual tools had transformed from quantitative to qualitative change, even a Divine Spirit Artifact shield could be blasted apart.

"Boom!"

In a short time after the battle began, a Purple Mansion Realm Blood Nest warrior was blasted apart.

The first to achieve this was the third battalion of the militia regiment.

Their leader was Wang Andong, ranked twenty-ninth in the An generation of the Wang Clan, one of the many great-grandchildren of Wang Shouyong, the fifth of the Shou generation.

Originally, Wang Andong, although not the most outstanding in the talented An generation of the Wang Clan, was still a formidable prodigy. Even if he went to the capital, Guilong City, he could compete for a spot among the Top Ten Outstanding Youths.

Wang Andong stood out after rigorous assessments in the militia regiment, obtaining the position of the third battalion leader, and after receiving a large amount of resources in advance, his bloodline ascended to the level of a great prodigy, class C.

This level of bloodline aptitude had "fallen" to the third sequence in the current Wang Clan. However, if placed in Guilong City, he could steadily rank in the top three among the younger generation, possibly even competing for the first or second place.

The deputy leader was also from the Wang Clan, Wang Ningtao, ranked thirteenth in the Ning generation.

Ningtao was one of the great-grandsons of Wang Shouxin, Wang Shouzhe's elder brother. Now, he had also advanced to a great prodigy, class D, with remarkable bloodline aptitude.

The uncle and nephew cooperated seamlessly, and with Wang Ningtao having "pre-allocated" a Divine Spirit Artifact, the "Heavenly Dry Ring," which was both offensive and controlling, they took advantage of the Blood Nest warrior's low intelligence to imprison and control it.

Under the well-trained concentrated fire of the battalion soldiers, they easily achieved the first kill.

However, such achievements were mostly due to the fact that the Blood Nest warriors had Purple Mansion combat power but lacked Purple Mansion intelligence. If dealing with a normal Purple Mansion Realm, it wouldn't be so simple.

This time, it was also an opportunity for the militia regiment to have a practical battle experience, letting them understand that although the Purple Mansion Realm was formidable, it was not invincible. Once targeted by a professional military siege, it was still a troublesome matter.

In no time, the battalions achieved success one after another, collecting one Marrying Blood Gu King after another. No, to be precise, these should be intermediate Marrying Blood Gu. This was the formal designation by the Blood Venerable's lineage, corresponding to the intermediate bloodline aptitude improvement liquid of the Shenwu Royal Dynasty.

The subsequent battles had reached a stage of little interest.

As the Changning Wang's Clan Militia Regiment gradually cleared the Purple Mansion Realm Blood Nest warriors, they began to attempt to confront the Divine Realm Blood Nest warriors.

On the battlefield, with Wang Anye as the main force, supported by the two peerless deputy commanders, they could barely hold off the Divine Realm Blood Nest warriors for a short period.

Then, each battalion took turns focusing their fire.

In a professional and well-trained strong battle group, a single Divine Realm cultivator naturally couldn't gain any advantage.

However, with the current level of the Changning Militia Regiment, they could barely fight ordinary solitary Divine Realm. If facing a Void Realm expert, unless Wang Anye used the "Legion Commander's Protection," there was absolutely no chance of victory.

Fortunately, this militia regiment had only been established for thirty years, and its future growth potential was still very large.

Once all the Divine Realm were eliminated one by one, the militia regiment retreated to rest. They had endured immense pressure in this wave of battle, with hundreds injured due to various unexpected reasons, including dozens seriously injured.

However, their battle group leader Wang Anye, although not as skilled in healing as Wang Shouzhe, was also a top-notch wood element talent. With a few methods, he managed to save those dozens of seriously injured.

"This battle group has great potential," True Lord Yuling was amazed, "Once it grows, it can rival those top battle groups of the Immortal Dynasty. Master Wang Shouzhe, you are truly wealthy."

With her status and vision, she naturally understood the terrifying cost of creating such a battle group, and without sufficient wealth, it couldn't be done.

"True Lord, you flatter me," Wang Shouzhe said, "I am merely considering the dangers of the outer region battlefield, to give my clan and fellow villagers more chances to survive in the future."

True Lord Yuling was speechless for a moment. This Master Wang Shouzhe didn't have grand ambitions, but his vision was extremely far-reaching. In fact, it was indeed so. As the spatial rifts on the outer region battlefield grew larger, the overall survival pressure of the human race also increased.

However, under normal circumstances, this was something for the high-level human race to worry about. The mindset of ordinary clans was that when the sky falls, there will be taller ones to hold it up. Yet, this small fifth-grade family in Changning Garrison had already started worrying about the concerns of the Immortal Emperor.

Subsequently.

The remaining three Void Realm Blood Nest warriors were also suppressed and eliminated by Jiang Zhencang, Emperor Longchang, Dragon Jingjing, and Ancestor Dragon working together. The Marrying Blood Gu found within them was extremely powerful, referred to as the supreme Marrying Blood Gu by the Blood Venerable's lineage.

This time, they obtained three supreme Marrying Blood Gu.

Such treasures corresponded to the supreme bloodline aptitude improvement liquid of the Shenwu Royal Dynasty, surpassing even the High-Grade Essence version by a large margin.

Moreover, the corpses of the Blood Nest warriors scattered all over the place would not be wasted, as they would be transported back to enrich the fields.

Thus, the relic left by the Blood Venerable was completely cleared.

...

Around the same time.

Outside the Southern Qin border.

The continuous mountains stretched like a giant serpent, with white clouds flowing like a sea between the mountains, from the foot to the waist, leaving only the peaks protruding above the clouds, resembling islands scattered across the sea from a distance.

At this moment.

On the peak of one of the mountains, two figures stood proudly against the wind, gazing in the direction of the Great Qian.

One was tall, the other short, with a powerful aura emanating from them, even the birds and beasts in the mountains were so frightened that they became exceptionally quiet.

The leader was the shorter one.

He wore a bright red robe, his figure like a child, looking adorable with a pair of deep, indifferent eyes exuding a sinister aura.

This person was none other than the Blood Child Demon Lord.

Beside him stood a young man in imperial robes, exuding a domineering aura, none other than the ruler of the Southern Qin Kingdom, Emperor Yuan You.

After years of defeat in the war, the army attacking Qian had been blocked outside Jianling Pass. Over the years, Emperor Yuan You had long lost his initial spirit, becoming much more subdued and compliant in front of the Blood Child Demon Lord.

"Lord Demon, your avatar technique is truly marvelous," Emperor Yuan You said with genuine admiration, "The avatar can act independently over long distances, making communication very convenient. It not only facilitates tasks but also keeps the main body safe, as if having an extra life. Apart from the avatar being weaker than the main body and requiring time and resources to refine, it has almost no drawbacks."

Compared to his own codex inheritance, the Blood Child Demon Lord's codex inheritance was clearly much stronger, not only allowing faster cultivation but also having more powerful divine abilities and secret techniques.

It was through the avatar's transmission that they were waiting here, ready to receive the Blood Child Demon Lord's avatar.

"Naturally. My 'Blood Demon Codex' is one of the most formidable in the True Demon Hall, just a step away from the half-step True Demon Scripture," the Blood Child Demon Lord said proudly, "Once I obtain the 'Holy Gu Codex' this time, combining it with the blood gu refining methods, I might have a chance to advance further. Perhaps, I could even deduce a true True Demon Scripture."

As they spoke.

Suddenly.

Gusts of wind howled from the sky, carrying moist water vapor, causing the surrounding mist to churn like a rolling sea of clouds.

In the midst of the wind, a figure walked through the air.

It was a middle-aged man with a weathered face and a decadent aura, wearing a simple cultivator's robe, looking like an ordinary Basalt cultivator. Yet, his aura was as vast as the sea, making one feel as if facing an endless ocean, involuntarily filled with awe.

His steps seemed slow, but his speed was not, appearing within a mile of them in just a few steps.

This person was none other than the ruler of the Western Jin Kingdom, Emperor Yan Qing.

"Yan Qing, you're finally here," Emperor Yuan You sensed the energy fluctuation and glanced up, "If you hadn't come, I would have thought you weren't planning to."

"The Western Jin is far from here, and I needed to make some arrangements before leaving the country, so my speed naturally couldn't match Emperor Yuan You's," Emperor Yan Qing explained casually, then bowed slightly to the Blood Child Demon Lord, "Greetings, Lord Demon."

"Hmm." The Blood Child Demon Lord nodded slightly, "It's good that you're here. Rest for a moment and prepare to receive."

As they spoke, from another direction in the sky, the Gu Xiang Demon Lord and Yinsha Demon Lord also arrived.

The Gu Xiang Demon Lord remained silent and muscular, standing like a tower, exuding an aura as imposing as a mountain.

The Yinsha Demon Lord, on the other hand, wore a white robe, elegant and refined, with a gentle aura like a noble scion, yet the vast and overwhelming Yin Fiend energy emanating from him was terrifying.

The two greeted the Blood Child Demon Lord, exchanged pleasantries, and, like Emperor Yan Qing, quietly waited on the peak.

They were in a mountainous area beyond the eastern border of the Southern Qin Kingdom, an undeveloped wilderness.

If starting from the Southern Desolate Swamp and heading west, it would take the Blood Child Demon Lord's avatar about half a day to reach this place.

If Emperor Longchang, Jiang Zhencang, or Ancestor Dragon detected something amiss and pursued, they could intercept them here, possibly even turning the tables.

"It's been over half a day since the avatar sent back the message. If everything went smoothly, it should have succeeded by now," the Blood Child Demon Lord stood on the mountain peak, his brows relaxed, feeling pleased, "That old Longchang would never dream that a True Immortal relic was hidden right under his nose. By the time he realizes something is wrong, it will be too late."

"Congratulations, Lord Demon, may your wishes come true," Emperor Yan Qing raised his hand in congratulations, "Once you obtain the Blood Venerable's legacy, you will be closer to advancing."

"Hahaha~ Well said!" The Blood Child Demon Lord laughed heartily, "Rest assured, in opening the Blood Venerable's relic this time, you have all contributed significantly. Once my avatar and the Yin Snake Demon Concubine return with the items, I will only take the codex and a few essential items, and you can divide the rest."

"Thank you, Lord Demon, for your generosity."

The other four Void Realm experts were overjoyed.

Although the codex was the most precious item in the Blood Venerable's relic, it was still a True Immortal relic. Even if the Blood Child Demon Lord took the lion's share, the remaining treasures were still valuable, a considerable fortune even for Void Realm experts.

Although dividing it among several parties would reduce the share, it would still cover the costs of this war.

They might even make a profit.

For a moment, everyone was in a good mood, filled with excitement and joy at the prospect of imminent gains.

However.

Just as they were eagerly anticipating, the Blood Child Demon Lord suddenly turned pale without warning, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

The blood stained his robe, shocking everyone.

"Lord Demon, what happened?" Emperor Yuan You, the closest, couldn't help but ask.

The Blood Child Demon Lord's face was pale, feeling the familiar tearing sensation and pain in his soul, his expression twisted with rage, "The avatar, something happened."

"What?!"

Everyone was shocked.

Even Emperor Yan Qing, who was usually indifferent, couldn't help but change his expression, "We've been planning for years, making so many preparations in advance, it should have been foolproof. How could this happen?"

"I don't know." The Blood Child Demon Lord took a deep breath, his expression even uglier than theirs, "I don't know what happened yet. But since the avatar is in trouble, something must have gone wrong. Before it was destroyed, it would have tried to send the message back."

"The straight-line distance from here to the Southern Desolate Swamp is only tens of thousands of miles. With my soul secret technique's transmission speed, it should take no more than a quarter of an hour. We'll know soon."

The avatar's consciousness was an extension of his soul. Once the avatar perished, the separated soul couldn't return, and the soul would naturally suffer backlash.

Spitting blood was the least of it; his consciousness was scattered, and even his profound energy was somewhat uncontrollable.

He didn't care about the others' reactions, taking out a pill from his storage ring and swallowing it, sitting cross-legged to regulate his breath.

The Gu Xiang Demon Lord, seeing this, instinctively stood beside him to guard.

The other three Void Realm cultivators looked at each other, having no other options, silently waiting, their previously relaxed and joyful expressions replaced with solemnity and anxiety.

Unknowingly, half a quarter of an hour passed.

Suddenly.

A red light shot from the horizon like a phantom, entering the Blood Child Demon Lord's body before anyone could react.

The Blood Child Demon Lord, who was meditating, suddenly opened his eyes.

Everyone's spirits lifted, their attention instinctively focused on the Blood Child Demon Lord.

"What happened?" The Gu Xiang Demon Lord spoke for the first time, his expression unprecedentedly grave.

"That damn Yin Snake Demon Concubine dared to betray me!" After digesting the message from the avatar, the Blood Child Demon Lord was furious, his eyes filled with terrifying rage, "The information the avatar received was all wrong. Longchang and Jiang Zhencang didn't even go to deal with the Dragon Whale King. The Blood Venerable's relic was a trap, already emptied!"

"What?!"

Everyone was shocked.

Even Emperor Yuan You and Emperor Yan Qing, who prided themselves on understanding the Eastern Qian Kingdom, never expected this reason.

Emperor Yan Qing was even more puzzled, "The Yin Snake Demon Concubine is a significant figure in the True Demon Hall. How could the Eastern Qian Kingdom, a remote country, persuade her to betray the True Demon Hall? Doesn't she value her life?"

"How would I know what she's thinking?" The Blood Child Demon Lord's expression was icy, his tone irritable with anger, "The avatar is an extension of my will and would never deceive me. Besides, if she hadn't betrayed, how could the avatar have been so thoroughly deceived? The Eastern Qian Kingdom has only been established for over seven thousand years; how could they have such means!"

"Damn it! If I catch her, I'll throw her into the Blood Demon Cave, let her suffer until death to vent my anger!"

In his rage, the Blood Child Demon Lord didn't notice that the previously compliant and respectful Emperor Yuan You and Emperor Yan Qing had subtly changed their expressions.

"Lord Demon, in this war, the Great Qin and Great Jin suffered heavy losses." Emperor Yuan You straightened his back slightly, his expression serious, "Previously, you said you would compensate us with treasures from the Blood Venerable's relic, and we had no objections. But now, since the Blood Venerable's relic wasn't successfully obtained, how do you plan to compensate us?"

The Blood Child Demon Lord, in a foul mood, replied impatiently, "Didn't I already give you some resources?"

"Lord Demon, the losses of our two countries are immense, and the resources you provided don't even cover a tenth of our consumption," Emperor Yan Qing also spoke, his tone noticeably harsher than before, "Such a huge amount of resources, if you don't give us an explanation, Yuan You and I might have to seek an explanation from the Demon Venerable in the True Demon Hall."

"You! You're threatening me?!" The Blood Child Demon Lord's eyes flashed with disbelief, "You dare speak to me like this?!"

Emperor Yuan You slowly stepped back, standing with Emperor Yan Qing, "Lord Demon, we have no choice, please understand."

Though their personalities differed, in matters concerning national interests, they chose to stand together.

It wasn't surprising they turned against him at this time; the losses in this war were indeed severe, affecting national strength. A significant portion of these losses was caused by the Blood Child Demon Lord.

If not for his constant pressure and temptations, their usual approach would have resulted in only a third of the current losses, even if the war was lost.

If the treasures from the Blood Venerable's relic were successfully obtained, and they each received reasonable compensation, they could accept such losses. But now, with the Blood Venerable's relic out of reach, as emperors, they needed to find a way to recover these losses.

Moreover, with the avatar's demise, the Blood Child Demon Lord was also suffering.

The soul was the essence, and once damaged, the Blood Child Demon Lord's strength would be severely weakened, taking a long time to recover to peak condition.

Additionally, with the Yin Snake Demon Concubine's betrayal, the power balance between the Blood Child Demon Lord and them was no longer as skewed as before, giving them the confidence to contest.

"Fine! You're really something!"

The Blood Child Demon Lord was already on the verge of exploding with anger, and now seeing them like this, he was even more furious. However, even he understood that now was not the time to turn against them.

He took a deep breath, coldly saying, "Rest assured, since I promised you, the benefits won't be lacking. Even without the treasures from the Blood Venerable's relic, I have many good things in the True Demon Hall's treasury. Taking out a few will be enough to compensate for your losses."

Hearing this, Emperor Yuan You and Emperor Yan Qing's tense expressions relaxed.

They had thought that with the Blood Child Demon Lord's irritable and violent nature, he might directly start a fight, but he surprisingly held back. Resolving the issue without fighting was naturally the best outcome.

However, before they could fully relax, they heard the Blood Child Demon Lord continue, "But, this matter isn't over. Although the avatar fell into a trap, it's certain that the Blood Venerable's relic itself is real, and the 'Holy Gu Codex' must still be in the Eastern Qian Kingdom."

"If the covert approach doesn't work, I'll take the overt one."```

"I shall send a letter back to the True Demon Hall to gather reinforcements. I will march on the Eastern Qian Kingdom and force that dog Long Chang to hand over the 'Holy Gu Codex' with overwhelming might! Since that old dog Long Chang dared to scheme against me, I will make him pay the price!"

Hiss~

Upon hearing this, both Emperors Yuan You and Yan Qing gasped in shock.

This... this is the prelude to a full-scale war!

...

Meanwhile, as the Blood Child Demon Lord and his followers received the news, Wang Shouzhe and his group arrived at the entrance of the Blood Venerable's refuge.

After spending decades in the refuge, the Red Enchantress Demon Envoy finally persuaded her master to open the door, and the master and disciple walked out together.

"Chimei greets Master Wang Shouzhe," the Red Enchantress Demon Envoy said, preparing to bow gracefully.

However, Wang Shouzhe interrupted her warmly, "Fairy Jiang has made great contributions this time, and I am grateful. Besides, in the Great Qian, we do not bow casually unless it's to celebrate an elder's birthday or to pay respects to ancestors, not even when subjects meet the emperor."

The Red Enchantress Demon Envoy's eyes lit up, "Master Wang Shouzhe, does this mean I will be called Jiang Qingxue from now on?"

"Fairy Jiang, don't joke around. Aren't you the family enshrined expert we hired from overseas, Fairy Jiang Qingxue?" Wang Shouzhe replied with a calm smile, "The terms of your annual stipend and our mutual responsibilities and obligations are clearly stated in our contract."

"Yes, yes, I am Jiang Qingxue." Jiang Qingxue held her master, Yin Snake Demon Concubine's wrist, and introduced, "Master Wang Shouzhe, this is my master, Ji Yue'er, who has just returned from overseas to join me. She also wishes to take up a position as an enshrined expert in the Wang's Clan."

"So, it's Senior Ji." Wang Shouzhe greeted politely, "Our Wang's Clan is always eager for talent. Since Senior Ji, a Lingxu Realm cultivator, wishes to become an enshrined expert, all the benefits will naturally be provided."

With that, Wang Shouzhe took out a contract from the Divine Spirit Artifact-level storage ring, the Hidden Sea Treasure Ring, and said, "All the benefits and obligations for a Lingxu Realm enshrined expert in the Wang's Clan are detailed in this contract. Please review it, Senior Ji, and feel free to provide feedback."

Yin Snake Demon Concubine, no, Ji Yue'er's beautiful face twitched, looking somewhat resigned. The Wang's Clan and her beloved disciple had teamed up to trap her.

Returning to the Demon Dynasty was out of the question, as the Blood Child Demon Lord would never let them go.

Forget it, forget it, let's just muddle through for now...

Wait?

Ji Yue'er's eyes suddenly brightened as she pointed to one of the benefits, "This... this isn't a joke, right? The Wang's Clan provides me with no less than 300,000 Immortal Crystals worth of resources annually? This can be offset with equivalent value in sacred-grade spirit rice, even immortal-grade spirit rice, high-grade spiritual stones, top-grade spiritual stones, and equivalent pills?"

Three hundred thousand Immortal Crystals is roughly equivalent to thirty million Top Gold.

And Emperor Longchang's annual consumption for food and cultivation in his later years was less than twenty million Top Gold.

With such benefits, Ji Yue'er would have over ten million extra funds to save compared to Emperor Longchang.

"It's no joke," Wang Shouzhe said seriously, "As a Lingxu Realm cultivator, Senior deserves this basic treatment as our Wang's Clan enshrined expert. Please continue reading."

"Completing additional tasks can earn contribution points, which can be exchanged for various resources from the Wang's Clan treasury, including top-grade spiritual stones, Immortal Spirit Stones... Divine Spirit Artifacts, Dao artifacts... opportunities to improve bloodline aptitude!" Ji Yue'er held her forehead, feeling a bit faint, "Does the clan treasury really have Immortal Spirit Stones and Dao artifacts?"

Immortal Spirit Stones and Dao artifacts were indeed listed in the clan treasury by Wang Shouzhe. However, the price...

"They do exist, but they are quite expensive," Wang Shouzhe said, "If Senior Ji diligently completes tasks and saves for a thousand years, you might just manage to exchange for them."

Wang Shouzhe wasn't joking. If someone could afford it, the treasury would naturally exchange it for them.

However, a Lingxu Realm cultivator might not be able to afford it even after a thousand years. Wang Shouzhe didn't believe the Wang's Clan would remain stagnant after a thousand years.

With these conditions revealed, even Jiang Zhencang, Emperor Longchang, and True Lord Yuling's eyes turned red.

"Shouzhe, you're not being fair," Emperor Longchang was the first to protest, "I've been with the Wang's Clan for so many years, and I've never received such treatment? Are you smitten by beauty..."

"Hehe, Your Majesty," Wang Shouzhe said with a smile, "First, you are a guest in our Wang's Clan, not contracted as an enshrined expert. Second, haven't you benefited enough from the immortal spirit energy of Xian'er over the years? Also, when have we ever shorted you on contribution points for tasks? Moreover, how many times have I paid off your gambling debts?"

"Those gambling debts were just you and your wife running a black market, money going from one hand to the other," Emperor Longchang rolled his eyes.

"Black market?" Wang Shouzhe chuckled, "Why don't you go and tell Ruolan that?"

"No, no, I don't want to talk to her, I'm just joking with you. No, no, I'm at a disadvantage here, I want the same treatment as Yin Snake... no, Ji Yue'er," Emperor Longchang grumbled, as if Wang Shouzhe had shorted him on his hard-earned wages.

"That's possible, if Your Majesty is willing to become an enshrined expert of the Wang's Clan and take on the corresponding responsibilities and obligations, and from then on follow my orders, we could sign a contract," Wang Shouzhe pondered carefully.

"Are you kidding? You want me to follow your orders? Wang Shouzhe, remember your place, I am the emperor, and you are the subject!" Emperor Longchang roared with an air of authority, "Even if you want to humiliate me, would I allow you to?"

"Your Majesty, you're overthinking it," Wang Shouzhe said, "The contract also places restrictions on our Wang's Clan. Every enshrined expert has independent rights, and we wouldn't bother to humiliate a Lingxu Realm enshrined expert..."

"Then let me see the contract," Emperor Longchang immediately changed his tone, taking a contract to the side to read it, muttering as he read, "Tsk tsk, it really is like this, this enshrined expert contract is quite fair, and it respects the enshrined expert."

"I thought you were just attracted to Ji Yue'er and Jiang Qingxue's beauty, wanting to use your authority as the clan leader, hehe... Sorry, I misunderstood you."

Wang Shouzhe's face darkened. If he weren't temporarily unable to defeat this old man, he would have kicked him in the face right then and there.

"Master Wang Shouzhe, do you have any temporary contracts available?" True Lord Yuling was also tempted, "You know, someone like me, a Lingxu Realm cultivator with the potential to become a True Immortal, can't be compared to the likes of Longchang Old Jiang, who has no future. I lack funds for cultivation and would like to seize an opportunity to earn some money..."

No future Lingxu?

Jiang Zhencang and Emperor Longchang glared at True Lord Yuling indignantly. If they could defeat her, they would have already started a fight.

...

```